We've all been there. You picked a silly, cringey, or just plain outdated username when you first made your Riot account years ago, and now you're tired of your teammates roasting you for it every time you queue up for ranked or unrated play. That's where knowing how to change your Valorant username comes in handy, and it's way simpler than most players assume, as long as you follow Riot's official rules. Too many players fall for scams or make avoidable mistakes that end up costing them extra RP or locking them out of name changes for months, so we put together this guide to walk you through every part of the process, no guesswork required.
How to Change Your Valorant Username: Official Step-by-Step Process
First off, it's important to note that you can't complete this process directly inside the Valorant client, no matter what platform you play on. All Riot ID changes have to be done through Riot's official account web portal, and that's the only legitimate way to make the update. Your Valorant username is tied to your Riot ID, so changing it will update your display name across League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra too – that's a detail a lot of players miss until after they make the change. You do not need to install any third-party tools or share your login info to make this change, and any site or person that claims otherwise is trying to scam you out of your account. The actual steps are straightforward: log into your Riot account on the official website, navigate to the Riot ID tab in the left side menu, enter your desired new display name in the corresponding field, confirm it meets naming guidelines, and hit save. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you'll be asked to enter a verification code sent to your email or phone to finalize the change, and you'll get a confirmation email as soon as the update goes through.
Eligibility Rules and Fees You Need to Know Before Making a Change
Riot doesn't let players change their usernames for free whenever they want, and there are a few key rules you need to be aware of before you start the process. Every player gets one free Riot ID change when they first create their account, but every subsequent change will cost you 1300 RP, which translates to roughly $10 USD depending on your region. You also have to wait at least 30 days between each name change, no exceptions, even if you're willing to pay extra to make another update immediately. If your current username was forced to be changed by Riot for violating community guidelines, you will not be charged for your next name change, as long as you pick an appropriate option that follows the rules. There are also strict naming guidelines that will get your request rejected if you don't follow them:
- Names that include slurs, hate speech, or discriminatory language targeting any protected group
- Names that impersonate Riot Games employees, pro players, or official tournament organizers
- Names with excessive special characters, spaces, or unreadable symbols that make it hard for other players to report you if needed
- Names that include personal information like your full name, phone number, or home address
- Names that promote illegal activity, hacking, or account selling
You cannot reserve a username ahead of time, so if the name you want is taken, you will have to pick a different option or wait to see if it becomes available later. Riot also doesn't release taken usernames on request, even if the account that holds it has been inactive for years, so you'll have to get creative if your first choice is already claimed.
Common Troubleshooting Issues When Changing Your Valorant Username
Even if you follow all the steps correctly, you might run into a few common issues that stop your name change from going through. The most common problem is players finding a username that appears to be available, but gets rejected when they try to save it. This usually happens because the name is reserved for a Riot employee, pro player, or official partner, or it includes a hidden banned term that you didn't notice. If this happens, try a slight variation of the name, like adding a short, easy to read suffix, instead of trying to force the exact same option. Another common issue is players changing their name on the account portal, but not seeing the update show up in the Valorant client. The fix for this is simple: fully close and restart your game client, don't just minimize it, and the new name should appear the next time you log in. Never share your account login details with anyone who claims they can help you get a reserved or taken username – these are almost always scammers who will steal your account and all the skins you've purchased over time. If you paid RP for a name change and it still hasn't gone through after 24 hours, reach out to Riot support with your transaction ID and they can help resolve the issue. If you recently transferred your account to a different region, you will have to wait 90 days before you can change your username – this is a security measure to prevent account theft, and there's no way around the waiting period.
Things to Consider Before You Finalize Your New Valorant Username
Before you hit that save button, there are a few small details that can save you a lot of hassle down the line. If you're a content creator or have a following in the Valorant community, changing your name might make it harder for your fans to find you in lobbies or on public leaderboards. It's a good idea to announce the change on your social media profiles a few days before you make the switch, so your regular viewers know what to look for. If you play a lot of ranked, you might also notice that your regular teammates don't recognize you right away the first few games after you make the change, so be prepared to answer a lot of "wait, who is this?" questions in team chat. If you have a large friends list, all your added friends will get a notification that you changed your name, but occasional teammates you added after a good game might remove you if they don't recognize your new display name. If you plan to compete in official Valorant tournaments, make sure your new username matches the name you registered with for the event to avoid disqualification – tournament admins don't make exceptions for name changes made after registration closes, even if you can prove you own the account. Avoid picking names that include temporary trends or inside jokes that you might find cringey a few months down the line, since you'll have to pay to change it again. A lot of players pick names based on a popular meme or inside joke with friends, only to regret it a few months later when the trend is dead and they're stuck paying 1300 RP to fix it.
At the end of the day, changing your Valorant display name doesn't have to be a complicated process. Knowing how to change your Valorant username correctly helps you avoid wasting RP, dealing with unnecessary delays, or falling for common scams that target players looking to update their in-game identity. Take a minute to double check that your desired name fits Riot's guidelines and is something you'll be happy seeing every time you log on, and you'll be good to go. If you run into any unexpected issues that you can't fix with the troubleshooting tips above, Riot's official support team is always available to help resolve account-related issues quickly.
